Video of the Day: “Hunger of the Pine” by alt-J

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The first cut off of alt-J‘s second album features jazzy undertones, atmospheric builds, and scraps some of the ADD elements that characterized the progression of its award winning debut album, An Awesome Wave. Which is to say, “Hunger of the Pine” sounds less of EDM bombast and more carefully considered.

The Mercury-Prize winning group took their time putting together their second album, seizing the moments offered by the buzz surrounding their first album to make hay while the sun was shining on its success. If “Hunger of the Pine” is indicative of the direction they’ve gone on This Is All Yours, then they’ve decided to nod in the direction of Massive Attack and Bristol’s trip-hop scene at the expense of continuous time shifts, chord shifts, and their debut’s overall scattered approach (that just so happened to mesh with 2012’s zeitgeist). Yet, it retains an unmistakable ethos that is decidedly alt-J with ecclesiastical echoes and feathery builds in vocals and the gradual, timely additions of instrumentation.

Speaking of the zeitgeist, the track samples Miley Cyrus in a way that isn’t obscene, her old-timey delivery of “I’m a female rebel…” seeming more appropriate in this setting than on its native soil.

The album hits the streets on September 22nd, and will initially be supported in North America by a month-long tour that makes its way, North and West to Midddle Atlantic.

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Behrnsie has a love for music that dare not speak its name. He attends many shows and can often be found counting out the beats for no discernible reason. He played alto saxophone in his middle school jazz band, where he was best known for infuriating his instructor when it was revealed that he played everything by ear, and could not in fact read music. He takes great pride that this is the same talent/affliction that got Tori Amos kicked out of the Peabody Academy. He does not live in his parents’ basement….except during the holidays.